For those following the news about the WV chemical spill

[theHandpuppet]

I'd suggest you explore the links at the Charleston Gazette, the local paper. Here's the link:
http://www.wvgazette.com/

Some interesting articles there regarding the crisis.

[Lasher]

1. The Charleston Gazette is a fine newspaper.

In my book they're as good as any in the country.

[LiberalEsto]

2. Very interesting story about the lack of emergency plans

Unfortunately for all of us, the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act has in cases been overridden by the Department of Homeland Security in recent years.

People can no longer find out what chemicals and other materials are stored at places like chemical plants and utility companies near their homes because of the specter of terrorist attacks.

I feel sure that this gives a lot of sites a very convenient loophole from the Right to Know Act.

This is an old article, from 2002, but it lays out the conflict between security and the public's right to know about hazards.


Information Resilience and Homeland Security
Richard Forno, 2002-05-09

http://www.securityfocus.com/columnists/80

"For example, chemical plants and nuclear power facilities removed ‘sensitive’ reports and documentation about public health, environmental safety, and facility security from their websites, allegedly to preclude a terrorist from obtaining information for malicious purposes. Absent many such reports, how will the public, watchdog groups, or regulatory or enforcement agencies be able to monitor for potential problems that affect the public? The fear here is that, under the guise of ‘national security’ the government is actually allowing corporations to avoid scrutiny by and accountability to the taxpaying public that is, in effect, paying for the critical infrastructures."

[Earth_First]

3. +1

Excellent citation that deserves further exploration and explanation to the public for sure...

[theHandpuppet]

4. Yep. This should serve as a warning to everyone

We don't even know what we don't know... if you know what I mean.